A proposed 278-mile rail line billed as relief for freight and traffic congestion in the Chicago area is getting a hearing next month from the Surface Transportation Board (STB), even as one potential customer said it's not interested. The proposed $8 billion rail line would be privately financed and enable freight traffic not destined for, or originating in, Chicago to bypass a Chicago terminal area characterized as congested. Union Pacific opposes the plan and instead favors several public-private partnerships to improve rail line efficiency (Chicago Tribune).